Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-02
BLOWN To ATOMS
rRrGHrruL EXPLOSION OF GASOLINE
INST LOUIS.
Buildings wreeked-A Number Of People
Crushed and Manglsd to Death
ATsrrifc ordeal.
10y telegraph TO the Dispaich.l

at O'Clock THIS morning, ana the clattcr
that followed carried the rumor OF
horrible calamity that had befallen three
families while wrapped in slumber. An
explosion OF gasoline in the rear OF the
cellar OF Michael Newman's grocery
store, No. Is south Fourteenth street,
has lifted two.story building from Its
foundation and dropped il back again in
q mass, beneath which were buried over
a dozen persons They were: Michael
Newman, aged tifty-two years Mrs. An.
ME Newman, aged forty years ; Miss
Mamie Newman, aged eighteen years
John Newman, aged sixteen years Mel
lie Newman, aged fifteen years Kate
Newman, aged eleven years; Eddie
Newman, aged thirteen years Charles
Deveere, Mrs. Charles Deveere, Miss
Hattie Brown, of Columbus, Ky, bruised
about the lower limbs ; Charles Eifferd,
Miss Patty Bryant, and Mrs. Beasly.
The explosion had scarcely wrecked
the place before devastating
fire swept through the ruins. Aid was
quickly on the scene, bat in such confu-
SION that the horror seemed to increase
with their efforts to relieve the imprisoned
victims. The people of the neighbOr-
hood, dumbfounded, many bruised, and
none in their normal state, ran about the
streets seeking friends, demanding ex-
plantations, or moaning from bruises.
The heat of the flame that had swept
down upon the ruins baflied the efforts of
the firemen. who had begun the first sys-
tematic work, and for few minutes it bid
fair to spread in the adjoining property.
Bot good work won, and then began a
the corner of an alley running through
from Fourteenth to Fargee street, and
was the north room of the building,
coTering Nos. 2, Z, 9, and ii Four
teenth street. The building was two
story brick, was completed but a short
time ago, and only one storeroom was
occupied. Mr.. Newman and bis family
of seven lived over the store. The force
of the explosion was terrific. The entire
block of buildings north Of and across
the alley from the building in which the
explosion took place were Quilted 10y the
blast. Newman's block, crushed in, was
covered by its roof, which had settled
down upon the ruins and formed bar
rier through which the rescuers had to
cut away beams and walls. This i'm
peded the progress, while the
threatening walls on the other
side overhung ready TO crush the gallant
men who pressed to the spot where calls
for help dire, ted them. The roof was
soon removed and in the dcbriS were re-
vealed the mangled forms of the grocery
mans family. Two girls. Newman's
daughters, were first removed. Mamie,
nineteen years of age, was still alive, but
mangled by timbers and charred 10y fire,
was beyond hope of recovery. Her SIS
ter, Nellie, girl of fifteen years, moan
ed piteously for her sister. For Tia
half hour that these two had been i'm
prisoned their efforts had been TO draw
near to each other when they saw escape
impossible. Neither can survive. The
rest Of the Newman family were dead.
Some sat upright and others were
doubled i'll their beds. Life had evil
IDENTITY fled while they were wrapped in
slumber. In the same buidinSover the
store, room No. Q, lived Charles Deveere,
n travelling salesman, and his wife,
Visiting them was Miss Hattie Brown, of
Columbus, Ky. She was badly injured,
but miraculously escaped death. She is
the only person who passed through the
horrible ordeal and lives to tell the story
of escape. She awoke to find herself
buried beneath heavy timbers, some
where against wall. She was unable
to tell where she was thrown,
but when her eyes opened she
beheld a thrilling scene that had
all the effects of horrible
dream. On one aide wall of fire reach
cd to the sky, while the crashing timbers
and clatter of iron caused storm of
dangerous missiles to fly about her head.
The screams of those in the adjoining
buildings rang in her ears, and as she
realized her situation she almost tainted,
but nerved to last desperate struggle
by the groans of the dying she essayed
to escape, but found her efforts baffled
at every turn. She was firmly pinned
by beam across her thigh and an iron
rod over one ankle. She could not tell
what means she employed to get out, but
as she twisted and struggled in vain the
fire was blown towards her until her long
black tresses were scorched and the odor
of burning meat penetrated her lungs
and almost suifocated the brave girl.
Relief appeared hopeless, and just as she
sank back in despair the ruins settled
down and the overhanging timbers were
raised from her limbs, which were fet-
tered in a deadly embrace. No time was
TO be lost, as the fire pressed close around
her. With extraordinary effort Miss
Brown sprang to her feet, and stag
gering, falling, and rolling she made
her way blindly through the ruins. Again
and again she fell, and, as she says,
her strength was completely exhausted
and she stumbled forward, falling head
long into the open space, where she lay
unconscious for few minutes. She was
restored by the cool breeze that brought
the blood TO her brain, and she again
rose TO her feet only to find herself IL
the comparative safety of the small back
YARD. Then she ran to neighbour
house and climbing through the balcony
sank down in a swoon. The neighbol
found her there and carried her into the
street, where she was given skirt ant
some clothing. She paid no attention Il
the kind offers of friendly hands, but
went down to the scene Of The
explosion and remained there in agony
eagerly scanning the charred and bruised
faces as friends carried the vic
Tins from the huge heap of splintere(
material. Over store-room No. ii re
sided Mrs. Bryant with her daughter
Miss Pattey. With them were TIVE
boarders, Charles Elfferd and Mrs
Beasley tie last named was buried 81
deeply in the debris that the search 70
her was given up until the others wer
removed. Charles Elfferd was take
out alive but died on the way TO IN
hospital. Miss Bryant was bruised, bu
her heavy head Of hair protected her
Her injuries are not dangerous. An un
known man OF forty years was found il
the debris and removed to the morgue
Besides those injured in this build
ing many persons in the neighborhoo,
were more or less cut and bruise,
by flying splinters and bricks. Fo
several blocks on either side of tn
streets the conclusion shattered tn,
windovs and In the immediate yicinit,